The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Hoping for late-season run
It’s always tough for the Crested Butte Titans heading into the San Luis Valley to play basketball. Gyms are typically packed, crowds are loud and there are other somewhat interesting intangibles that play out in the home team’s favor. When the Titan boys headed to Antonito last Friday, they found all of that and more.
Both teams are flirting with the cellar of the league and there was a lot on the line when they met. A win could set either team up for a strong finish to the regular season and ultimately lead to hosting in the first round of the post-season.
“The winner of that game bumps up a notch in the standings,” says coach Brandin Hamilton.
Antonito has three players averaging double-digit scoring, so Hamilton knew what needed to happen right away if his team was going to have a chance.
“I knew they could score some points and if we came out and continued with our scoring funk, we would lose the game,” said Hamilton.
In the end the two teams traded baskets all four quarters with neither able to build more than a four-point lead. Joe Hayes drained a deep three-pointer to close the first half and the teams were locked in a 20-20 tie.
The Titans flirted with disaster in the fourth quarter after a couple of ill-timed turnovers and a technical foul gave Antonito opportunities to pull away but the Titans defense made the difference as they held off Antonito down the stretch to eke out the 35-33 win.
“We definitely played good defense and we played better offensively,” says Hamilton.
Quinn Winter led the team with 20 points, 10 rebounds and numerous big blocks.
“It was kind of a block party for Quinn,” says Hamilton. “He has been a monster.”
Hayes added in seven points to help carry the Titans to the win.
They returned home to then host the Sangre de Cristo Thunderbirds on Saturday. Sangre came into the game second in the league, ranked 12th in the state, and the Titans would need their best game to date to put up any kind of fight.
The Titans opened the game with their best foot forward as Winter scored four early points and David Wasinger slashed through Sangre for an offensive board and bucket and a lay-up.
“They were feeling it,” says Hamilton.
Down just 12-10 at the end of the first quarter, things were looking good but then disaster struck. Tommy Rainville was sidelined with an ankle injury and Sangre settled into their game plan, applied pressure to the Titans before midcourt and eventually outscored the Titans 28-13.
“They kept us from doing anything,” says Hamilton. “That was the worst quarter we played all season.”
Grant Johnson ended up injured as well, as the Titans took the floor in the third quarter and Hamilton had to call on his shallow bench to come into play against one of the top teams in the league.
“I decided to get those kids out there and get some experience,” says Hamilton.
While Sangre cruised to the 70-37 win, Hamilton did see some positives from his players.
“Noah [Dumas] had his best varsity game and I got a glimpse of what the future holds,” says Hamilton.
Winter led the team again with 20 points and Wasinger finished with seven.
The Titans hit the road to face Custer County this week, return home on Thursday to host Cotopaxi and then finish the regular season in Del Norte on Saturday, February 22.
“Custer and Del Norte are both winnable games,” says Hamilton. “It would be nice to win one of those two games.”
Based on how the Titans finish, they could end up hosting a first-round playoff game on Monday, February 24.
